~ Student of the Word of God

“It’s not about how much you got – it’s about how much you appreciate it.” – My Wife

These words aren’t just wise words for our children to understand, a lot of us adults can learn from this lesson as well. We’ve received an amazing gift, a Savior born this day.

We’ve received so much – mercy, forgiveness, grace, adoption into the family of Christ – and I hope that today we appreciate it. I hope that we see past the commercialism and the ritual and the presents under the tree, and the food on the table. I hope that we appreciate that greatest gift of all, because He is the only gift truly worth receiving and talking hold of and claiming as our own.

Thank you, Lord. Teach us to appreciate you, to know you, to love you – and nor just one day a year, or just one day a week – help us remember you, and walk with you. Because that restored relationship, that fellowship, that pouring out of your Spirit into our lives is truly something worth appreciating.

Life long learning. Being open to receive and to grow. Not thinking that we’ve got it all worked out or nailed down. I love that there are others like you sharing and communicating and, sharpening each other as we all had down this narrow path.

I love how Paul put it in his letter to the Philippians –

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.
Philippians 3:12-16 NLT